Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has been forced to replace Joey Carbery on the bench for today’s game against Russia.
Carbery was named among the replacements for the match as a substitute scrum-half in what was set to be his first appearance in the position for Ireland if he came on.
However, during the warm-up for the game Carbery didn’t feel his ankle was 100% right and was removed from the matchday squad, being replaced by Conor Murray in the 23.
Luke McGrath is starting the game and with the injury to Carbery, the Leinster man will more than likely stay on for longer than the team had hoped in order to allow Murray some time to rest after starting the opening two games.
The concern for Ireland will be that Carbery has only returned from an ankle injury that he picked up during the side’s first World Cup warm-up game against Italy.
Having been a doubt for the tournament head coach Joe Schmidt selected Carbery with the hope that the Munster star would recover in time to gain vital game-time during the pool stages.
It remains to be seen whether it is the same ankle that he has injured, but if it is the fear will be that his tournament could be at a premature end.
In better news for the Irish, centre Robbie Henshaw looks likely to be in contention for next weekend’s game against Samoa after training fully with the rest of the squad ahead of the Russian clash.
Ireland have already had to bring in Jordi Murphy for the injured Jack Conan and they will be hoping that they don’t have to replace Carbery too.
